Apparatus for bending tubes of fiber and similar material



Sept. 13, 1932. D. B. REPLOGLE 1,877,627

APPARATUS FOR BENDING TUBES 0F FIBER AND SIMILAR MATERIAL Filed July 28, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 I N VEN TOR.

, Z7. 5. ADE/L OGLE ATTORNEYS Sept. 13, 1932. REPLQGLE I 1,877,627

APPARATUS FOR BENDING TUBES OF FIBER AND SIMILAR MATERIAL Filed July 28, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 IIIIIII III I N VEN TOR. Q 5. EEPAOGLE.

A TTORNE Y6 p 1932- D. B. REPLOGLE 1,877,627

APPARATUS FOR BENDING TUBES 0F FIBER AND SIMILAR MATERIAL Filed July 28, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet .5

III IIIIII "luv/7711 I N VEN TOR.

A TTORNE Y.

Patented Sept. 13, 1932 I UNITED STATES PAT F C DANIEL BENSON REPLOGL-E, OF BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR, BY DIBEGTFAND MssNE assremannrs, TO THE COMMERCE GUARDIAN empo, OHIO, AS'TRUSTEE;

, i The invention relates to a method and apparatus for bending tubes constructed of hygroscopic material such as vulcanized fiber,

cellulose material. 7

In the manufacture of fibrous tubes 1t is the hard paper tubes, or tubes composed of other J custom, to produce the same by winding upon a mandreba wet web of fibrous pulp such as 'cellulose pulp,the Wet web'lof pulp being formed by 'a cylinder mold or other webforming mechanism and being conveyed to the winding mandrel by any suitable form of geneous.

'then ordinal conveying means; As a result of this operation by which the moistureis removed.

I ofbending such fibrous tubes after the form- ,ing mandrel has been removed. This may be The present invention relates to a method accomplished befor the tube is permitted to dry, or ifit is dried the tube may be moistened so as to condition it for the bendin operation, for It is a presrequlsite' that the tube shall be in a' Condition to] bend, and in a moist condition they bend best. A moist paper or fibertube iseasily collapsiblesincethe walls thereof under theseconditions possess "little strength or resistance. I

malformation of the tube and to maintain th circularity of the tubeln cross section; I

have solved this problemIby-eausing yielding outward pressureto be exerted against the 1n- ,"terior of a moist tube during the bending'operation," I40 may beinainta nedwithin the tube during Another means is to insert an expanding helical spring from tbetube while it is still subjected to such pressure. This outwardpressure may be provided in a number of ways. Forexample, moist tube may be filled with sand or other granular material which will serve to and after the bending operation.

. being, bent.-

and *then removing the moisture;

APPARATUS FOR enumne TUBES or FIBER Ann SIMILAR Merriam]; A pplication filed July 28, was. Seria1'No., 236,073., v i I or coil withi the tube, the outward pressure of which is sufficient to. prevent deformation of the tube during the bending of the tube and until it is dried and set in the desired bent form.

I have also. provided an improved apparav tus by means of which a plurality of tubes may be bent at onetime, and by means of which a uniform bend may be secured, without marring the walls of the tube. V The invention Wlll be more readily under.- stood by 7 reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in wh ch 3 I F: g. 1 1s a top plan vlew ofa bendingapparatus especially designed forqbending gas.

filled tubes and for heating the gas during the bending and subsequent drying'of the tubes in orderto maintain the proper degree of pressurewithin the tubes.

Fig. 2 is atlongitudinal sectional view of the apparatus the section being takenthrough onset the tubes, certainparts'be'ing shown in 'elevation, this view showing the relation.

of parts when the tubes are in place within a the forms, and 111st before the bending operation. I

FFag. 31s a viewsimilar to Fig. 2 showing the parts of the device When .the tubes are Fig. 4 is a detail vertical sectional view v H showing a means for heating the tubes. om of the problems which presents itselfin the benduig of such tubes 1s to prevent the Fig 5 is a detail perspective viewshowing TRUST & SAVINGS BANK OF I i an extension shield, adapted to be pivotally V attached to one QfiftllQ tube-bending forms.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a modified form of tube bGIlCllIlgliGVlCC-B, particularly designed for bendlng a plurality of tubes vwhich maybe filled with sander other gran- .ular material.

b Fig. 7 is aj central transverse verticalsection through the tubebending-forms,: and showing in elevation the meansfor clamping together the upper and lower members of the apparatus. 1

Fig.8 is a view similar to Fig.7, but taken near one end of the. apparatus and showing .in elevation the cooperating meanstfor insufring proper re 'istry of the complementary portionsofthe bending forms. 7

Fig. 9,.is'a central longitudinal sectional view through one of the tube-torming members of the apparatus, a bent tube, filled with sand, being shown in section.

Fig. is a view similar to Fig. 6, but showing a further modification in which coil springs are employed for maintaining the circularity of. the fiber tubes.

' Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 9, but showing a spring substituted for the granular material employed in Fig. 9.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary view in elevation showing a detail of the modification disclosed in Figs. 10 and 11.

Referring first to the form of apparatus shown in Figs. 1-5 inclusive, the bending device consists of a. bed member 10, and an upper press member 11 pivotall connected to the bed member by means of the hinge 12.

The bed member 10 carries the'lower halves 13 of a plurality of tube forms, herein shown as three in number, while the upper member 11 carries the upper halves 14 of the tube forms. These forms are of theproper degree of curvature desired in the completed bent fiber tube.

For bending fiber tubes it is necessary to first soak them in water until they become moist and flexible. The tubes 15 are then inserted in the bending matrices as shown in Fig.2,the lower ends of the tubes are' closed air tight by means of gaskets 16 which are held in place by caps 17, which in turn abut against projections 18 on the lower portion of the form. The caps; 17 serve to protect the ends of the tube against injury or marring during the bending operation. To each of the lower forms is pivoted an extension or shield 19, the purpose of which is to prevent marring of the tube at that end of the tube form, as would obviously be the case, if

7 no such means were provided. In order to maintain each of the tubes gas tight spring pressed closure members 20, of rubber or like material, are provided at the ends of the. 1 tubes opposite the gaskets 16. These closure members are carried by threaded rods 21 ex- 7 tending through a bar 22, which is carried by a lever 23 secured to one of the pivoted shields 19. Springs 24 react between the bar 22 and the closure members 20.

In order to prevent collapsing of the mo1st fiber tubes heat is applied, which expands the air within the closed tubes and generates steam. To supply the necessary heat gas burners 25 and 26 above and below the tube forms are provided. Sulficient pressure will be generated within the tubes by this heating operation, toprevent collapsing of the tubes as the upper form members are lowered to the position shown in Fig. 3 by means of an' operating handle 27 or other operating means,

' and the form may be secured in this lowered position by means of a latch member 28, pro-1 vided'with a notch 29, which 'coacts with a' pin 30 upon the operating handle 27. As the sand from the tubes.

Le7Ze27 tubes are bent the extension shields 19 are rotated about their pivots 31 and prevent marring of the tubes at the ends of the lower tube forms 13. As the shields are rotated the rod 23 carried by the central shield, swings upwardly, carrying with it the bar 22 and the closure members 20, which swing in the same are as the tubes themselves, and in this manner the gas tight fit is maintained at all times.

After the fiber tubes have been bent they are maintained in the bending forms until they have completely dried, and hardened in the bent form. The drying operation will be assisted by the application of heat from the burners 25 and 26. The pressure is maintained within the tubes until they have hardened sufiiciently to prevent collapsing.

Means other than gas pressure for maintaining the circularity of the fiber tubes during the bending operation may be provided. In Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9, a device is shown in which sand or other granular material is employed for this purpose.

The apparatus is similar to that described in connection with Figs. 1-5 inclusive. In this case, however, the upper member 35 carrying the upper halves 36 of the tube forms, instead of being pivoted to the lower or bed member 37 which carries the lower halves 38 of the tube forms, is provided with grooved guide lugs 39 which coact with posts 40 extending from the bed member and insure the accurate positioning of the two halves 36, 38 of the tube forming members one upon the other.

sion spades 46 are employed for preventingmarring of the tubes, and a bar 47 carried by rods 48 attached to two of the pivoted shields is employed to prevent spilling the The tubes, after being bent, are held inthe forms until the moisture has dried and the tubes have set and hardened in bent form. The drying operation may be hastened by applying heat, for example, by placing the forms within an oven.-

In Figs. 10, 11 and 12, a third modification of the invention is disclosed. The parts of 1 the bending apparatus are the same as shown in Figs. 6-9 inclusive, but in this case the circularity of the fiber tubes 42 is maintained by means of coil springs 50, which exert a constant outward pressure and prevent def Spring catches 41 are provided for holdmg the upper and lower members 3 and the caps 45 applied. The upper member of the tube bending apparatus is'then applied and pressed into position, and clamped 1 until the tubes have dried. When the tubes orination of the moist tubes during and after the bending operation. These springs, as shown, are in the form of tightly coiled helices pointed at their ends.

The last coils of the helices opposite the pointed ends are passed through slots 5 1- in the bar 47 and then turned at right angles, in order to hold the helicesiin place. .The moist fiber tubes may then be slipped over the helices from the pointed ends upwardly have sufficiently dried and hardened so as to prevent collapsing, the helical springs'may be. removed after turning the end coils of the springs in such a direction as to tighten the helices. This tightening of the springs is necessary for the reason that the fiber tubes contract as they are dried and therefore could not be readily separated from the springs unless the helices were contracted.

this

1 and interiorally, as well as circular inside and In all the forms of my invention the mode of operation is substantially the same. When the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 2, the upper or convex form member is tangent it to the tube and in contact therewith at a point or on a semi-circular line at the place of contact. The two ends of the part to be bent are supported on the base member of the bending form. As the movable jaw descends, the contact between the tube and upper member is extended toward the ends ofthe tube, while the contact with the lower member is extended inwardly from both ends toward the center. At first the tendency is to bend the tube at the middle of the portion to be bent, and as the bending proceeds, the curve extends in both directions from the imiddle. The pressure of the upper member against thetube is transmitted through the material of the tube to the core, and from o the core to the lower half of the tube, until finally the entire tube is pressed into the lower member and pressed downwardly against the l core by the upper member. It is apparent, therefore, that the core cooperates With theupper member to receive and transmit bending stress to the lower por-:

tion of the core, until the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 3, when the core cooperates with both the upper and lower bending members to compress the tube and'cause it to conform to thesurfaces of both the core band the form members.

The-upper portion of the tube is shortened and there is a tendency to produce buckling and uneveness, and on the other hand, there is a tendency to stretch the lower portion 1 of. the tube mostly at its middle, making the tube non-circular and uneven in thickness. My invention avoids both of these objections and makes the tube smooth both' exteriorally outside. This circularity is a result in; part of compression of the thicker parts of=the uneven tube and in partit is duet'o the flow of the plastic material.

' Several modifications of the inventionhave been described for the purpose-oi illustration, but it is obvious that-other forms of apparatus than those herein 1 set forth may be employed for car'rying out the herein described method plastictixbes. A

Where --I have claimedthe forms'f as grooved, I do not limit myself to channels fcut or'molded' infthe face ofa solid block, but the grooves .or' channels'may be formed in any" suitablemanner, as 5 by bending or corrLIgatiH-g;

Wha'tlclaim is I T "1 l 1. An apparatus for simultaneously-mendinga plurality of moist fiber tubesinto the desired curvature, comprising apair of relatlvely movable member-s carrying a: -plu'ral' of bending fiber or: otherz' ity of complementary halvesoftube bending forms, said forms having-complementary grooves in their working 'faces' to closelye'ngage the outside surfaces? of the tubes and also having a curvature conforming to-that desired in the bent tubes, and meansfor opcrating within the tubes to prevent collapse "and maintain the circularityof said tubesiceg durin the bending operation. M

n apparatus for simultaneously bend- "ing a moist fiber'tube' into the'fdesired curvature, comprising a pair-of relatively movablemembers carryingcompl ementary halves of a tube bending form, said 'halv'es having complementary grooves in their--workii1g faces to closely engage the outside surface of the tube and also having a curvature c'onforming to that desir'e di'nfthe bent tube; means for securingtogetherjsaid movable memb'ers in such relationthat the complementary halves"of" the tube bending form register with each'other, and means for operating within the tube to prevent collapsecfsi-l) and *maintain the circularity of said tube during thebendingopera'tion.

3. An apparatus forfbending a moist fiber tube into the desired curvature, comprising apair' of relatively m'ovable members carry- 1 ing complementary halves of a tube bending form, between-which one end portion of the tube is placed, said form'having a curvature conforming-to that desired in the bent tube,

ing a plurality of tubesinto the desired curvature, comprising a pair of relatively movable members carrying a plurality of and an extension member pivoted at ,theend fixed, form.

i the tube, and meansfor closing the ends of complementary halves of tube bending forms, said storms having a curvature conforming to that desired in the bent tubes, extension members pivoted at the ends of the one set of halves of the bending forms, and adapted to engage-the tubes during the bending operation for preventing marring, rods carried by said pivoted extension members, and caps for the ends of the tubes carried by the saidrods H .r

5. An apparatus for bending a moist fiber tube, comprising a pair of relatively: movable members carrying complementary portions. of the bending form, said form having acurvature conforming to that desired in the bent tube, and means partly within and partly without the tube for maintaining the circularity of said tube duringthe bending 0 ration.

, 6. X; apparatus for bending a moist fiber tube, comprising ajmovable and a fixed member, each member carrying a complementary portion. of a bending form; and an extension shield, conforming in shape to that of the tube to be bent, pivoted intermediate its ends to the fixed member and adapted to prevent marring of the tube 'at the end of the 7. An apparatus for bending tubes comprising a movable and a fixed member, each member carrying a complementary portion of a bending form; an extension shieldpivotedto the fixed member and adapted to prevent marring of the tube at the end of the fixed form and a cover for one end ofa tube being bent, said cover being adapted to swing about the same pivot as the extension shield. 8. An apparatus for bending fiber tubes comprising a movable and a fixed member,

each member carrying a complementary portion of a bending form, each portion being grooved to closely fit the outside surface of the tubes air-tight during the bending operation.

9. An apparatus tubes comprising a movable and a fixed form member, 7 each member carrying a complementary portion of a bending form, said portions being grooved to closely fit the outside surface of the tube, and means foracting within the tubeto cooperate with the form members for maintaining circularity of the tubes during the bending operation.

10. An apparatus for bending moistfiber tubes into the desiredcurvature, comprising ,a pair of relatively movable form members, 'carrying complementary halves of a tube bending form, said form having a curvature conforming to that desired in the bent tubes,

said halves being grooved to closely fit the 7 outside, of the tubes, and means for closing the ends of the tubes during the bending opera- 7 7 tion. c

for bending moist fiber the tube;

tubes into the desired curvature,comprising a p rof l y .m vablei rmanem ers carrying a plurality of complementary halves of tube bending forms, said forms being grooved to fit the outside surfaces ofthe tubes and having a curvature conforming to that desired in the bent. tubes, means within, the

the ends operation. 7

' 12; An apparatus ing a plurality of-tubes into thedesired. curvatur'e, comprising a pluralityof .relatiyely movable members carrying"a pluralityor complementary haivesof tube be gu gferms,

rods pivoted adjacent theends of one set of halves of the bending forms', and coversff ir the ends of the tubescarried by said rods,

13. Anap'paratus for bending a fiber t ube comprising a pair of; relatively movable members carrying complementary halves of tube bending forms, p voted means carried by one of said members, and tube closing means carried by said pivoted means, 7

14. Anapparatus for bending tubes comprising a pair of relatlvel-ymovable members carrying complementary portion of tube bending forms and means -for securing togethcrsaid movable'members in such relation that .the complementary halves of the tube bending forms registerwith each other, said means comprising a plurality of posts carried by one-member, and cooperating with'a, plurality of grooved lugs carried by the other member, and pivoted spring 'latch members foarriedby one member 'and'engaging over the other member. I y 7 15. An apparatus for simultaneously bendinga plurality of tubes into thede sired curvature, comprising" a bed member andfan upper member pivotedthereto, said members carrying a' pluralityof complementary halves of tube bendingformsfand means for; heating the-tubes insaid formscomprising upper and lowersets "'of'i'g'as burners, the

upper setbeing movable with "said pivoted member, the, number of burners in each set corresponding'to the number of tube bending forms. I i

16. An apparatus for bending vfib'erotulj es comprising upper and lower. 'it'orin members movablewithreference to eachfother, atube closure member hav ng pivoted cQnneCtiOn'to one of said members, and expansion means carried bysaid closuremember', and cooperating' with thesaid forms during the bending operation, for maln'tammg circularity of 17 Anapparatu's forsimultaneously bendmg' a pluralitybit'tubesI into the desired curvature, comprising a pair of relatively movable members carrying a pluralltypf complementary halves of tube bend ng forms;-

having curvature conforming to that'desired in the bent tubes, closure means for said tubes pivotally connected to one of said mem-' bore, a plurality of'coil springs carried by said closure means, and cooperating with said form members to maintain the circularity of said tubes during the bending operation, and means extending through said closure for varying the tension of said springs.

18. An apparatus for bonding a tube into the desired curvature, comprising a pair of relatively movable members carrying complementary halves of a tube bending form, said form having a curvature conforming to that desired in the bent tube, an extension member pivoted at the end of one of the halves of the bending form, and adaptedto engage the tube during the bending operation for preventing marring, a rod carried by said pivoted extension member, and a cap for the end of the tube carried by the said rod. 7

19. An apparatus for bending a tube into the desired curvature, comprising a plurality of relatively movable members carrying complementary halves of a tube bending form, a rod pivoted adjacent the end of one of the halves of the bending form, and a cover for the end of the tube carried by said rod.

20. An apparatus for bending tubes comprising a pair of relatively movable members carrying complementary portions of a tube bending form and means for securing to gether said movable members in suchrelation that the complementary halves of the tube bending form register with each other, said means comprisin a'plurality of posts carried by one member, and cooperating with a plurality of grooved lugs carried by the other member, and pivoted spring latch members carried by one member and engaging over the other member. I p

21. An apparatus for bending a tube into the desired curvature, comprising a bed memher and an upper member pivoted thereto, said members carrying complementary halves of a tube bending form, and means for heating the tube in said form comprising upper and lower gas burners, the upper burner being movable with said pivoted member.

22. An apparatus for bending tubes into the desired curvature, comprising a pair of relatively movable members carrying complementary halves of a tube bending form, having a curvature conforming to that desired in the bent tubes, closure means for said tube pivotally connected to one of said members, a spring carried by said closure means, and cooperating with said form members to maintain the circularity of said tube during the bending operation, and means extending through said closure for varying the tension of said spring.

23. Apparatus for bending moist fiber tubes comprising means for causing a resistance to collapse or inward radial movement of the tube in any direction, and means closely surrounding the tube and opposing out-,

surrounding the tube and opposingoutward radial movement to insure circularity of the tube when bent, and means for heatingsaid tube while it is heldby the apparatus.

'25. A device forbending: tubes composed of moist fibrous material, comprising a movable and a fixed member, each member carrying a complementary portion of a bending form, an extension shield pivoted to and overlapping the fixed member and adapted to prevent marring of the plastic tube during the bending operation, and granular means withpreventmg collapslng of the in the. tube for tube whilemois l In testimony whereof I alfix my signature. DANIEL B. 'REPLOGLE.

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